As I mentioned about a month ago, my calculations have indicated that the 1990s are now officially “20 years ago.” As befits a decade that has reached such a milestone, definitive lists of its most noteworthy cultural and political events will now be published for the express purpose of being dissected and angrily dismissed by at least half of their readers. Who better to release such a divisive list than Pitchfork?
I don’t regularly read Pitchfork, as the whole site reminds me of the irritating college radio DJs and indie-rock aficionados that I used to spend so much time arguing with. I thought they took their music too seriously and they felt that because they regularly were one of two attendees to shows that took place in the bathroom of a laundromat, they were in an authoritative position to dismiss anything that I listened to.
But I will give props to Pitchfork for their list of the Top 50 Music Videos of the 90s, released earlier this week. It’s an interesting mix that seems genuinely well thought-out. It still seems to come from a mainstream perspective as a lot of the non-rock picks are somewhat obvious, but I guess Pitchfork knows its audience, so whatever.
First, let’s take a look at the list before we start arguing about it.
50. PJ Harvey – “Man-Size”
49. Beck – “Loser”
48. Frank Black – “Headache”
47. Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Got Your Money”
46. The Verbe – “Bittersweet Symphony”
45. Dr. Dre (ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg) – “Ain’t Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang”
44. Wilco – “Outtasight (Outta Mind)”
43. Snoop Doggy Dogg – “Gin & Juice”
42. Sonic Youth – “Dirty Boots”
41. Lauryn Hill – “Everything Is Everything”
40. Fiona Apple – “Criminal”
39. Massive Attack – “Protection”
38. Ice Cube - “It Was a Good Day”
37. Spiritualized – “Come Together”
36. Chris Isaak – “Wicked Game”
35. The Chemical Brothers – “Elektrobank”
34. Air – “Kelly Watch the Stars”
33. A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”
32. Busta Rhymes – “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”
31. Cibo Matto – “Sugar Water”
30. Squarepusher – “Come On My Selector”
29. The Smashing Pumpkins – “1979″
28. Jamiroquai – “Virtual Insanity”
27. Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
26. Foo Fighters – “Big Me”
25. Pavement – “Cut Your Hair”
24. The Pharcyde – “Drop”
23. Wu-Tang Clan – “Triumph”
22. Sinead O’Connor – “Nothing Compares 2 U”
21. Radiohead – “Just”
20. Nine Inch Nails – “Closer”
19. The Notorious B.I.G. (ft. 112) – “Sky’s the Limit”
18. Beck – “Devil’s Haircut”
17. Foo Fighters – “Everlong”
16. Pulp – “This Is Hardcore”
15. Daft Punk – “Around the World”
14. Blur – “Coffee + TV”
13. Nirvana – “In Bloom”
12. Yo La Tengo – “Sugarcube”
11. Aphex Twin – “Windowlicker”
10. Missy Elliott – “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”
9. Bjork – “All Is Full of Love”
8. UNKLE (ft. Thom Yorke) – “Rabbit in Your Headlights”
7. The Chemical Brothers – “Let Forever Be”
6. Fatboy Slim – “Praise You”
5. The Beastie Boys – “Sabotage”
4. Bjork – “Bachelorette”
3. Daft Punk – “Da Funk”
2. Weezer – “Buddy Holly”
1. Aphex Twin – “Come to Daddy”
I will give enthusiastic fist-pumps to Pitchfork for including “Everything Is Everything, ” “Criminal,” and “It Was a Good Day,” which are all gems. My son will be particularly tickled to see “Triumph” included, as that is one of his favorite Wu-Tang Clan songs (yes, I am a terrible mother, but I’m also a bad motherf*cker…or something…shut up). But I have to give a HUGE WTF to “1979″ being the Smashing Pumpkins selection. Not only is that video just kind of “meh,” the song is practically the point where you can say that the Smashing Pumpkins should have hung it up. “Today” is obviously the best Smashing Pumpkins video and so perfectly 90s I can barely stand to watch it. What picks do you agree or disagree with on this list?
Smashing Pumpkins – Today
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